A&M chancellor backs campus carry bill

Updated 4:36 pm, Thursday, February 12, 2015

Which U.S. states ban open carry? Take a look at the handgun and long gun restrictions in every state.

ALABAMA

Handguns: Legal, but some restrictions apply

Long guns: Legal

Which U.S. states ban open carry? Take a look at the handgun and long gun restrictions in every state.

ALABAMA

Handguns: Legal, but some restrictions apply

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle

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ALASKA

Handguns: Legal, but some restrictions apply

Long guns: Legal

ALASKA

Handguns: Legal, but some restrictions apply

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle

Image 3 of 50

ARIZONA

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

ARIZONA

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle

Image 4 of 50

ARKANSAS

Handguns: Legal, but some restrictions apply

Long guns: Legal

ARKANSAS

Handguns: Legal, but some restrictions apply

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle

Image 5 of 50

CALIFORNIA

Handguns: Banned

Long guns (rifles, shotguns, etc): Banned

CALIFORNIA

Handguns: Banned

Long guns (rifles, shotguns, etc): Banned

Photo: Kin Man Hui, MBO

Image 6 of 50

COLORADO

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

COLORADO

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle

Image 7 of 50

CONNECTICUT

Handguns: With Permit

Long guns: Legal

CONNECTICUT

Handguns: With Permit

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Alma E. Hernandez, Alma E. Hernandez / For The San

Image 8 of 50

DELAWARE

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

DELAWARE

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle

Image 9 of 50

FLORIDA

Handguns:

Banned

Long guns: Banned

FLORIDAHandguns:

Banned

Long guns: Banned

Photo: Eric Gay, STF

Image 10 of 50

GEORGIA

Handguns: With permit

Long guns: Legal

GEORGIA

Handguns: With permit

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Alma E. Hernandez, Alma E. Hernandez / For The San

Image 11 of 50

HAWAII

Handguns: With permit

Long guns: Legal

HAWAII

Handguns: With permit

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Associated Press

Image 12 of 50

IDAHO

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

IDAHO

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Houston Chronicle

Image 13 of 50

ILLINOIS

Handguns: Banned

Long guns: Banned

ILLINOIS

Handguns: Banned

Long guns: Banned

Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, STF

Image 14 of 50

INDIANA

Handguns: With permit

Long guns: Legal

INDIANA

Handguns: With permit

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Associated Press

Image 15 of 50

IOWA

Handguns: With permit

Long guns: Legal, but guns must be unloaded

IOWA

Handguns: With permit

Long guns: Legal, but guns must be unloaded

Photo: Associated Press

Image 16 of 50

KANSAS

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

KANSAS

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Houston Chronicle

Image 17 of 50

KENTUCKY

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

KENTUCKY

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Lauren McGaughy/Houston Chronicle

Image 18 of 50

LOUISIANA

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

LOUISIANA

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Eric Gay, Associated Press

Image 19 of 50

MAINE

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

MAINE

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Rodger Mallison, MBR

Image 20 of 50

MARYLAND

Handguns: With permit

Long guns: Legal

MARYLAND

Handguns: With permit

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Lauren McGaughy/Houston Chronicle

Image 21 of 50

MASSACHUSETTS

Handguns: With permit
Long guns: Banned

MASSACHUSETTS

Handguns: With permitLong guns: Banned

Photo: Eric Gay, STF

Image 22 of 50

MICHIGAN

Handguns: Legal, with some restrictions

Long guns: Legal, with some restrictions

MICHIGAN

Handguns: Legal, with some restrictions

Long guns: Legal, with some restrictions

Photo: Lauren McGaughy/Houston Chronicle

Image 23 of 50

MINNESOTA

Handguns: With permit

Long guns: Banned

MINNESOTA

Handguns: With permit

Long guns: Banned

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, STF

Image 24 of 50

MISSISSIPPI

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

MISSISSIPPI

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Max Faulkner, Associated Press

Image 25 of 50

MISSOURI

Handguns: Legal, with some restrictions

Long guns: Legal

MISSOURI

Handguns: Legal, with some restrictions

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Lauren McGaughy/Houston Chronicle

Image 26 of 50

MONTANA

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

MONTANA

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Lauren McGaughy/Houston Chronicle

Image 27 of 50

NEBRASKA

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

NEBRASKA

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Eric Gay, Associated Press

Image 28 of 50

NEVADA

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

NEVADA

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

Photo: PAUL J. RICHARDS, .

Image 29 of 50

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

Image 30 of 50

NEW JERSEY

Handguns: With permit

Long guns: Banned

NEW JERSEY

Handguns: With permit

Long guns: Banned

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, STF

Image 31 of 50

NEW MEXICO

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

NEW MEXICO

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

Photo: SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Image 32 of 50

NEW YORK

Handguns: Banned

Long guns: Legal

NEW YORK

Handguns: Banned

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Max Faulkner, Associated Press

Image 33 of 50

NORTH CAROLINA

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

NORTH CAROLINA

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Lisa Krantz, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Image 34 of 50

NORTH DAKOTA

Handguns: Legal, with some restrictions

Long guns: Legal

NORTH DAKOTA

Handguns: Legal, with some restrictions

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Lisa Krantz, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Image 35 of 50

OHIO

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

OHIO

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Lisa Krantz, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Image 36 of 50

OKLAHOMA

Handguns: With permit

Long guns: Legal

OKLAHOMA

Handguns: With permit

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Associated Press

Image 37 of 50

OREGON

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

OREGON

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News

Image 38 of 50

PENNSYLVANIA

Handguns: Legal, except in Philadelphia (permit required)

Long guns: Legal, except in Philadelphia (permit required)

PENNSYLVANIA

Handguns: Legal, except in Philadelphia (permit required)

Long guns: Legal, except in Philadelphia (permit required)

Photo: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News

Image 39 of 50

RHODE ISLAND

Handguns: With permit

Long guns: Legal

RHODE ISLAND

Handguns: With permit

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle

Image 40 of 50

SOUTH CAROLINA

Handguns: Banned

Long guns: Legal

SOUTH CAROLINA

Handguns: Banned

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News

Image 41 of 50

SOUTH DAKOTA

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

SOUTH DAKOTA

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Seth Perlman, STF

Image 42 of 50

TENNESSEE

Handguns: With permit

Long guns: Legal, but guns must be unloaded

TENNESSEE

Handguns: With permit

Long guns: Legal, but guns must be unloaded

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle

Image 43 of 50

TEXAS

Handguns: Banned

Long guns: Legal

TEXAS

Handguns:Banned

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Staff

Image 44 of 50

UTAH

Handguns: With permit

Long guns: Legal, but guns must be unloaded

UTAH

Handguns: With permit

Long guns: Legal, but guns must be unloaded

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle

Image 45 of 50

VERMONT

Handguns:Legal

Long guns: Legal

VERMONT

Handguns:Legal

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News

Image 46 of 50

VIRGINIA

Handguns: Legal, with some restrictions

Long guns: Legal, with some restrictions

VIRGINIA

Handguns: Legal, with some restrictions

Long guns: Legal, with some restrictions

Photo: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News

Image 47 of 50

WASHINGTON

Handguns: Legal, with some restrictions

Long guns: Legal

WASHINGTON

Handguns: Legal, with some restrictions

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Eric Gay, .

Image 48 of 50

WEST VIRGINIA

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

WEST VIRGINIA

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News

Image 49 of 50

WISCONSIN

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

WISCONSIN

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News

Image 50 of 50

WYOMING

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

WYOMING

Handguns: Legal

Long guns: Legal

Photo: Getty Images

A&M chancellor backs campus carry bill

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AUSTIN – In keeping with their status as in-state rivals, Texas A&M and the University of Texas have taken opposite sides in the debate over campus carry.

State senators on Thursday opened debate for the first time this session on two gun bills, one sponsored by Granbury Republican Brian Birdwell that would allow concealed handgun license holders to tote pistols on campus.

While most higher education leaders oppose campus carry, Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp broke from precedent Thursday by throwing his support behind Birdwell's proposal. In a letter to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Sharp said "having licensed gun owners in possession of legal weapons on our campuses does not raise safety concerns for me personally."

The real question is this: "Do I trust my students, faculty and staff to work and live responsibly under the same laws at the university as they do at home?" Of course I do!" Sharp added.

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"However, properly funding the higher education of these students is the only issue that counts! This is my personal opinion. The Texas A&M University System will not have a position on this issue, and will not oppose campus carry."

Most higher education leaders, including new University of Texas System Chancellor William McRaven, vehemently oppose campus carry. McRaven has issued his own letter to legislative leaders, saying as a Navy SEAL and former head of Special Operations Command he believes allowing concealed carry at universities would make campuses "less safe."

Several other chancellors also testified Thursday.

"I'm afraid my only suggestion for improvement...would be to delegate some of these responsibilities to the Board of Regents to establish some standards," said University of North Texas Chancellor Lee Jackson. He added, "We are not going to be able to shoot our way out of problems on college campuses."

Texas Tech University System Chancellor Robert Duncan said if the legislation does pass he would ask that public colleges have a seat at the table to discuss "exceptions" and opt-out provisions. State law already allows campuses to opt into allowing students and faculty to apply for campus carry licenses, but only Texas A&M has taken advantage of the law.

Several senators, including anti-campus carry Democrats Judith Zaffirini and Rodney Ellis, acknowledged Birdwell's bill is likely to pass this year. SB11 has the support of a super-majority of state senators, and similar legislation with an opt-out provision passed last session in the House.